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Originally Posted by indoorsy
hi Avanti, There were other factors too.... I appreciate your thoughts on the matter and all the advise over the course of my odyssey.
Phoebe, Thank you for your insight. Buying used is definitely something I'd like to do... As I got further into my research on the Class B MH's, the warranty seemed like a safety net I'd like to have - being up in the price category wasn't where I originally intended to be and if it were an easier thing with less steep a learning curve than it would feel more comfortable, but that's not the case.
JRobe, I'm here... you can address your comments directly to me rather than refer to me in the third person. Thank you for the suggestion of renting. It is a good one and something I intend on pursuing. It has been suggested multitudes of times earlier on the thread and without the rude undertone. The flip flopping was as a result of all I learned on here. I don't live in a state with a lot of RV resources, and it is the middle of winter so getting out in a rental isn't currently possible. I'm using the time to read and visit showrooms and while doing so I learned a lot and shared a lot to those helpful people on here so they could point out what I still don't know (blessedly, in a giving and kind fashion). It's a process and I'm doing fine.
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We can learn a great deal from these forums, but also at times get information overload! As well, it is very easy to over react to negative remarks about a particular aspect when perhaps 1% are complaining about something and 99% are totally happy - but don't say so! Unhappy people seem much more likely to make comments!
As for trailer versus motorhome - particularly class B in this case, I think it really depends on you own preferred lifestyle and what is important to you - don't think trailers are without issues, although of course they are less complex. Each certainly has pros and cons.
We have had trailers for the last 45 years or so - and still do at present our forst was 20 ft, the 27, now a 31 ft Airstream.
We have enjoyed them all - I thik the biggest negative issues we have had have been ..........
(1) Water leaks. Causing serious interior damage causing walls to delaminate and floors to rot - very expensive to repair properly. If you have the ability- and space to do your own repairs great otherwise, get the check book out! Continual attention to caulking can go a long way to reducing this problem. I believe the same issue exists with large class A and C motorhomes, but to a much lessers exten with a Class B due its van shell.
(2) Parking. Obviously depends on your situation. I have never been able to park a trailer at our house in a suburban area. I can apply for a permit tp park it on the street outside our house for 15 nights a year. So each trip, I use up twoof these nights - i bring it home to pack the day before we leave - then take it back to storage the day after we get home when it is unpacked and clean.
I currently pay $1000 a year for fenced and gated storage about 35 minutes from where we live. Some places we have stored trailer at have suffered from vandalism - the place we use now - so far - has been good.
I don't begrudge paying the money, but more importantly the trailer gets relatively little use - one long winter trip and maybe a week or so in the summer. It is just too much of a hassle to bring it home to pack for a weekend trip.
As well, out of sight out of mind - I know I don't look after it nearly as well as I would if it were here at home with us.
(2) Appliances - same issue with all RV's they can be problematic , fridges, air conditioners hot water heaters and furnaces - I've had my share of problems with all! Most often minor electrical issues relating to corroded connectors and bad grounds. The less you use the equipment and teh less you look after it, the more the problems. It is satisfying when you manage to fix them yourself - but frustrating when they crop up at the worst times - like when you need them!
(3) Handling - a longer trailer can put you at quite a disadvantage in getting into many sites - in fact with our current trailer there are many state, federal, and provincial parks that we just have to miss. The sites are just physically too small - and even if the sites were big enough, some take real skill to back into if the access roads are narrow. twisty, and heavily treed! I get very at times trying to get our trailer into a site while holding everyone u on the access road! embarrassed
As well, depending on your equipment driving the highways can be a white knuckle affair due to trailer sway due to cross winds, being passed by 18 wheelers etc. Our current trailer is pretty good but it cost me over $3000 for a special hitch (Hensley) to achieve this - and that hitch can have quite a learning curve to hook up quickly! Nearly caused divorce when we first bought it!)
Further more my wife refuses to try towing the trailer. any others dont have a problem, but mine is deathly afraid of it!
(4) Getting fuel can be a problem - it is fine at major truck stops on the interstates, but small town gas station can be not at all trailer friendly in their layout - at times I have had to back away from pumps once filled! It is worse if you need to also find the pump that has diesel, as we do at present!
Sounds as though I am really down on trailers! I am not! Once set up, you have a real home away from home - lots of space, all the storage you want, and the tow vehicle to run around town in so you don't need to pack everything up each time you need to go into town!
Trailers are best suited to people who wish to drive to a destination and stay for an extended time. Motorhomes and vans are better suited if you like to change locations often.
Just possible food for thought!
We still enjoy our trailer and this weekend will be heading out for seven weeks in the warm weather (once we get out of the snow.)
I am now very seriously considering a class B as we approach our last few RV'ing years as I believe we will get much more use out of it - day trips, weekends, as well as longer trips. I can keep it at home and enjoy looking after is , my wife can drive it, even if only in an emergency, and a big plus to me is that we can stop almost anywhere with it.
If we find it just too confining for an extended winter stay, then my plan is to use it for the journey, then rent a condo or "double wide" at destination and use teh van as our local transportation.
There is no doubt we will miss all the space we now have, but I am thinking that for us, the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages - sure hope I am right as it is quite a change! We did however happily camp in a VW Westfalia with our two kids back in the seventies, so it is not entirely foreign to us!
Hope this helps rather than just adds further to confusion and makes your decision more difficult!
Brian.
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